Venting needle



May 6, 1958 A. E. KRUG 2,833,281

VENTING NEEDLE Filed Feb. 25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

am! a? [my United States Patent VENTING NEEDLE Application February 25, 1953, Serial No. 338,729

2 Claims. (Cl. 128221) This invention relates to a structurally and functiom ally improved venting needle and especially a unit to be used in connection with thedispensing and storage of liquids such as blood, plasma, etc.

It is an object of the invention to furnish a device of this character which may be readily manufactured, sterilized and employed; the use of the needle requiring no skill on the part of the ultimate technician.

A further object is that of providing a piercing element which, when placed in operative association with receptacles of diverse types, will readily permit of the use of these receptacles to receive or dispense liquid under even flow conditions without danger of stoppages or pulsating flows occurring incident to air locks being set 111).

Moreover, by the present teachings,-a unit is furnished which may be maintained in sterile condition for indefinite periods of time and which in use will prevent contamination of the fluids entering or flowing from receptacles with which it is associated.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. l is a side elevationof one form of venting needle and showing the enclosing sheath therefor in section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 and in the direction of the arrows as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of an alternative form of needle structure;

Fig. 4 is a sectional side view through a receptacle and showing the needle associated therewith;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the assembly and the neck portion of an inverted receptacle;

Fig. 6 is aside elevation of a preferred needle;

Fig. 7 is taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional side view of a complete packaged assembly including the needle of Fig. 6.

In these views, the numeral 10 indicates the shank or body of the needle which is preferably formed of a plastic such as nylon. As shown, the body of the unit is preferably tapered towards its piercing point 11. The side face of body 10 is formed with an axially extending groove 12, as in Figs. 1 to 3, which, as shown, preferably does not extend entirely through the body but rather has its base substantially in line with the axis of the same. That end of body 10 which is opposite point 11 terminates in a head portion 13 of any suitable configuration and adjacent the base of this head a groove 14 is preferably provided.

An air-pervious material such as a body of sterilized cotton is, under ordinary conditions, associated with the groove 12 and extended portions thereof. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this mass may include a shank portion 15 which extends at least within the upper end of groove 12. That groove terminates in a transverse bore extending through the body 10. Under these circumstances, the mass of cotton or other filtering material terminates in a head portion 16 which preferably completely fills that bore.

- ceptacle.

2,833,281 Patented May 6, 19 58 In the case of the needle shown in Fig. 3, the structure may be identical with that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

This is excepting only that no transverse bore is provided adjacent the outer end of the needle body. Under these circumstances, the outer end of the groove terminates in a preferably circular enlarged portion 17 into which the material mass 18 keys so that there will not be danger of accidental detachment of this filter body or plug from the needle.

A unit embodying the present teachings is ordinarily used in connection with a plasma bottle or similar device. As in Fig. 4, the numeral 18 indicates a bottle of this type which is provided with a neck portion 19 on which there is initially mounted a cap (not shown).

the outer recesses and projected to readily penetrate a portion 21 so as to establish communication with the interior of receptacle 18 as shown in this figure.

Now'if liquid is to be introduced into the receptacle,

then it is apparent thatif the interior of that receptacle be not under a condition of vacuum, a vent must be provided to allow the liquid to enter the otherwise sealed re- It is for this reason that theneedle of the present invention is employed. That needle is simplypressed by means of its head portion 13 so that its point penetrates a second, perforable diaphragm portion of the I stopper as in Fig. 4. Under these circumstances 'itwill I be appreciated that the length of groove 12 is---'togeth'er with the head or bore portion adjacent its outer end greater than the thickness of the diaphragm which is penetrated. Therefore, a filtering air channel will be provided between the interior of the receptacle and the outer face of the stopper. A shoulder portion 25 which preferably forms a part of body 10 limits the penetration of the needle through the stopper so that the needle may not be inserted to too great an extent. Of course, if liquid is withdrawn from receptacle 18 and the latter is in an upright position as shown in Fig. 4, then the length of cannula 24 may be such that its point extends substantially toward the base of the receptacle. Also, even if liquid is being introduced into the receptacle, the needle may, of course, have greater length than that shown in Fig. 4.

Where the receptacle is to be inverted as indicated in Fig. 5, the same procedure as heretofore described may be resorted to. In that case due to the restricted nature of groove 12 and additionally having in mind the existence of the mass of material 15 and 16, a capillary passage will, in effect, be furnished such that ordinarily the liquid will not pass through the vent of the needle but rather will flow freely through the bore of the cannula 24 which is unrestricted. The air entering through the needle vent will be filtered by the mass of sterile material. Should there be likelihood of seepage through this vent, then, of course, as indicated in Fig. 5, a tube 26 of glass or other suitable material may be afiixed to that inner recess of the stopper in line with which the needle is to penetrate. Under these circumstances and with an inverting of the receptacle, the liquid will not come in contact with any portion of the venting needle to a detrimental or undesired extent.

In order to maintain the sterility of the needle, it may be enclosed in a sheath 27 of nylon or other suitable materials. After mounting the mass of material 1516 or 1718 and with the outer end of the sheath open, sterili- Thebore, of neck 19 is sealed by a headed stopper 20 which is.

zation-maybe'achieved. b.y autoclaving. The outer end end of the sheath may be heat-sealed as at 29. Therefore,

the parts will remain sterile. When it is desired to use the. unit, it will merely be necessary to grasp end' portion 29 in one hand and the head 13' in the other hand and pull the sheath free, Thedevicewillthereupon be ready for use.

In certainrespects the needle and assembly as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is. apreferred structure. The needle follows generally the structure. of the unit is heretofore described andtherefore the same numerals have been applied to common parts. Also, the technique of. usingvthe. venting needle as traversed in connection with Figs. 4 and 5, is the same. However, as shown especially in. Figs. 6 and 7, it will be seen that the body'of the, needle 10 is formed with grooves etxending longitudinally of its shank at preferably diametrically opposite points on its surface as indicated at 30. Intermediate the length of these grooves, an opening 31 is provided. A length of material is threaded through this opening. As shown,.this-material may be wool thread. 32 and the length of' the. same is such that with itsends extended towards, the head 13 of' the unit, these ends. will lie adjacent the preferably inclined surfaces 33d'efiningthe-ends of grooves 3.0.

By this construction, it' is apparent that venting; passages of adequate capacity are provided. Theshank of the" needle may be. enclosedby a sheath 27 within which a sterilized plug 34 of cotton or other materialis disposed. After the parts. have been subjected to autoclaving, the outer end. of the sheath may be heat-sealed as at 29. Aswill' be apparent the unit is rendered available for use by simply stripping the sheath 27 from the hank 10.

Thus, among others; the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A venting needle including in combination a body presenting a piercing point adjacent one of its ends and said body being formed with grooves extending axially and upon opposite sides thereof, said'body being formed with an opening providing. communication between the base portions of said grooves and an air-pervious filtering unit passing through said opening and extendinginto said grooves, said unithaving its ends terminating within said grooves.

2. A venting needle including in combination a shank formed with a groove on its outer face, an air-pervious mass of filtering material disposed within said groove, a head. at one end of said shank, a piercing point at the oppositeend'of saidshank, said groove terminating short of such ends, the mass of'filtering material being substantially completely housedwithin said groove and said shank being formed with a surface adjacent its head to be engaged by the face of a sheath housing said shank.

References Cited in the'file of this patent UNITED: STATES PATENTS Poitras May:19, 1953 

